Take a look to this official teaser poster of Blazing Samurai, the upcoming animated movie directed by Chris Bailey and Mark Koetsier based on a script written by Ed Stone and Nate Hopper:

(Click on the poster to enlarge.)

BLAZING SAMURAI

Prepare to crack up.

August 2017.

From GFM Films, Open Road Films and some cats who brought you Blazing Saddles, The Lion King, & Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Plot synopsis: “The story revolves around a scrappy young dog who fights to save a town from becoming the litter box of a nefarious feline warlord. In a land of cats, in a time long ago… The felines of Kakamucho are about to get their litter boxes shaken up when their new Samurai turns up and he’s not quite what they expected — A DOG! Hank, a scrappy, wide-eyed pooch on the run, scrambles ashore with dreams of becoming a Samurai like his kitty heroes. There’s just one problem: he doesn’t QUITE fit in. But he’s the perfect pawn for a scheming warlord named Ika Chu, who’s after Kakamucho’s land and needs the townscats out of his way. What better way to chase out a bunch of cats than a dog! Hank rolls into Kakamucho large and in charge, but is quickly taken down a peg when confronted by a hornet’s nest of furious townscats – he’s no Samurai, he’s a dog! His only champion is Emiko, a young kitten with her own dreams of becoming a samurai. This is going to be a lot harder than Hank expected. Luckily friends and training come in unlikely places. Hank finds the town outcast, a catnip-addled former swordsman named Yojimbo, who gives him a crash course, literally, in how to be a Samurai. With a little grit, determination, and his own canine style, Hank becomes a true Samurai and teaches his new compatriots a big lesson: It doesn’t matter where you came from, but who you are inside. Cats and dogs living together. ”

The voice cast includes: – Michael Cera as Hank, a dog who dreams of becoming a true samurai and to save the town, Kakamucho – Samuel L. Jackson as Jimbo, a cat who once was a great warrior – Ricky Gervais as Ika Chu, a sneaky bad cat who has a grand plan to get rid of the town’s inhabitants – Mel Brooks as Shogun, the misguided but good leader – George Takei as Ohga, the enforcer of the villain – Gabriel Iglesias as Chuck – Aasif Mandvi as Ichiro – Djimon Hounsou as Sumo, a gentle giant – Michelle Yeoh as Yuki, Emiko’s over-protective mom – Sandra Tsing Loh as Little Mama – Heavenly Joy Jerkins as Emiko, the feisty kitten who is a natural warrior – and Mel B as The Giraffe (cameo)

Here’s an earlier teaser poster:

(Click on the poster to enlarge.)

And here’s a first (early) look at the main characters:

(Click on the picture to enlarge.)

Blazing Samurai – From left to right: Emiko, Hank, and Jimbo

The release date of the movie Blazing Samurai is set to August 4, 2017.